tour reporter
Canadian Hugo Houle wins stage 16 of the Tour de France. He dedicates the surprising victory to his dead brother.
had in the last few kilometers Hugo Houle Time to prepare for the feelings that were about to overwhelm him. He hadn’t believed in it for a long time, but now they had signaled to the Canadian from the team vehicle that it would be enough for the stage win. “Enjoy it”the command came over the radio.
In Houles face wrestle joy and pain
So drove Houle now as a soloist towards the finish line of the 16th stage in Foix, pointed his right index finger towards the sky, then clenched his fist and finally raised both arms in the air. In that moment, joy and pain wrestled in his face. “I’ve never won before. And winning today was a dream I had for my brother who passed away ten years ago.”said Houle. “I wanted to win this stage in his honor.”
It’s a tragic story that Houle chokes back from tears Foix told. Pierrik Houle was hit by a car while jogging in December 2012. The driver of the car committed a hit and run. as Hugo Houle came to the scene of the accident, his brother, who was three years younger, was being given a cardiac massage by the paramedics. “I held his hand, saw the blood running out of his ear and mouth and knew he was dead.”
Hard worker for the teammates
Hugo Houle just had his first contract with a team in the world tour signed. From the 2013 season he drove for the French team 2013 Ag2R La Mondialebut the focus on cycling was hard to find. “A loss like that leaves a big gap. It takes months to recover”said Houle. He took part in the classic Paris-Roubaix in his first season. “But I didn’t know what to do there.” The team gave him the time to get over the heavy loss. For that he is very grateful.
In the years that followed it developed Houle a hard worker for his teammates, a water bearer who sacrifices himself for the glory of others – only at Ag2R La Mondialethen for Team Astana and since last season for Team Israel-PremierTechwhere he is alongside the four-time Tour winner Christopher Froome moves.
“He’s a great teammate, absolutely selfless, nothing is ever too much trouble for him. He’s a tough guy”the Brit said of Houle. “It’s great to see someone who normally gives 100 per cent for their captains and team-mates take this chance today.”
As a helper for woods in the group
Houles success was the second stage win for the Israeli team. In the first week, Simon Clarke had won stage 5 over the cobbled streets of northern France. The fact that Houle of all people added another day’s win was a big surprise, and not just for him.
The Canadian should actually only be a helper again on this day. This time for his compatriot Michael Woods, with which he had jumped into the breakaway group at the beginning of the stage. Woods already has two stage wins in the Tour of Spain under his belt palmares stand, last year he won the mountain jersey of the Tour de Suisse.
“Everyone who has seen the group has probably said that Woods is our best option for the stage win”, said Froome, and he must have been right. as Houle at the Mur de Peguerethe last climb of the day, this was not an attack on our own behalf, but on duty woods.
“My idea was that Michael would have less pressure if I went out in front”said Houle. “The others had to drive behind and he only had to surf along.” Actually drove woods then always on the rear wheel of the American Matteo Jorgenson, who was the only competitor to pursue him. But he didn’t get any closer than 30 seconds Houle approach. Later, Jorgenson also fell on the downhill towards Foix.
First Canadian stage win in 34 years
Houle is the first Canadian since Steve Farmer 1988, which is a stage of Tour de France and the winner is. Farmer He also wore the yellow jersey for a short time and arrived in Paris fourth overall. He hopes his example will inspire the next generation of Canadian drivers, said Houle. “So it doesn’t take another 34 years for a Canadian to win a stage.”
Perhaps the 31-year-old professional cyclist actually won new fans in his home country that afternoon in the Pyrenees. His first follower, however, triumphed in Foix can not witness: his brother Pierrikwith whom he had so often competed in sports as a child. “He followed everything that was done in cycling”said Houle and had to take another deep breath. “He was my biggest fan.”